I thought I should remind everyone that as of 1st July, 2014 the camping fee system which includes the new prices and the online booking for sites will be implemented. For Mt Arapiles Tooan State Park this means that you can no longer pay your fees via the fee box. You will need to book a site online.

Fees for Arapiles will continue to be $5 a night with campers free to choose where they wish to camp within the designated campground area, but you will need to do this online.

The sign has been installed and the fee box will be removed soon. See the picture below.

As yet, I have no official communication to get you any further info. I will post this as soon as it comes to hand. If if people want to make direct enquiries or give feedback then either call 131963 or email info@parks.vic.gov.au

Hey if you are camping in Arapiles you have it lucky. In most of the Grampians you will now have to pay $38-$50 plus $10 booking fee. So around $100 for a weekend of camping for you and your cimbing partner.

For wilderness camping it will $30. Just to walk in and camp for a single night before Passport to Insanity.

The whole thing is plainly absurd. Arapiles has it good.

EDIT: (After reading one of the other documents there they may not be proceeding with the $10 booking fee proposal.)

On 19/06/2014 maxdacat wrote:>What a terrible website! Each campsite is referred to as a "Product". Did>the web developers not finish the job. And Mt Buffalo is great for camping.....but>nothing else?

Not to mention that when a campsite, sorry "Product" is no longer able to be booked the "Product" appears as "SOLD". When you book a site it is added to you cart which then you take to the checkout.

It is quite clear that the whole website is an incompetent rush job and is currently unfinished. The whole thing is a joke. No surprises there though this was predicted months ago as all those great IT guys who did Myki needed a job.

On 19/06/2014 JohnK wrote:>Oh well - the longer they leave Araps out the website due to incompetence>the better then. >Just out of curiosity - assume that if you sleep in your car camp fees>do not apply?

On 19/06/2014 shortman wrote:>On 19/06/2014 JohnK wrote:>>Oh well - the longer they leave Araps out the website due to incompetence>>the better then. >>Just out of curiosity - assume that if you sleep in your car camp fees>>do not apply?>>I wondered this too. I reckon it has to be free.
Wrong. Sign at Arapiles says that a car cannot be parked overnight without a camping permit.

>Hi All,>>I thought I should remind everyone that as of 1st July, 2014 the camping>fee system which includes the new prices and the online booking for sites>will be implemented. For Mt Arapiles Tooan State Park this means that you>can no longer pay your fees via the fee box. You will need to book a site>online. >>Tracey

(/snip)

With the previous/existing envelope system, people who paid the camping fee ended up with a slip to display on their tent as proof of their payment.

With the new online system I may (or may not) receive a receipt affirming my payment BUT it will be at home, in Sydney, on my computer. How will the Ranger know this when he/she does their rounds of the camping areas to check compliance?

Even if the receipt is on a mobile device that is with me at Arapiles I'm not likely to display this on the outside of my tent while I'm away climbing.

On 19/06/2014 kieranl wrote:>On 19/06/2014 shortman wrote:>>On 19/06/2014 JohnK wrote:>>>Oh well - the longer they leave Araps out the website due to incompetence>>>the better then. >>>Just out of curiosity - assume that if you sleep in your car camp fees>>>do not apply?>>>>I wondered this too. I reckon it has to be free.>Wrong. Sign at Arapiles says that a car cannot be parked overnight without>a camping permit.

On 19/06/2014 kuu wrote:>>With the new online system I may (or may not) receive a receipt affirming>my payment BUT it will be at home, in Sydney, on my computer. How will>the Ranger know this when he/she does their rounds of the camping areas>to check compliance?>

Arapiles is still the exception to the rest of the system. I wouldn't be surprised if the problem you describe has even been considered. All other campsites will have numbered lots which need to be paid for in advance.

Other lovely campsites which have walk in, bush camping, have had significant works done to them which destroy their character just so they can have marked lots. Significant amount of money has been spent segregating and numbering lots at places like Lake Elizabeth.